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Carbon paper is commonly used for catalytic electrode preparation because of its high conductivity, corrosion resistance, and stability. However, traditional electrode preparation methods are inappropriate for highly hydrophobic carbon paper. In this paper, a high‐activity carbon paper catalytic electrode was prepared using multistrategies cold plasma modification to create atomic structural defects, dope N and Cu elements, and introduce oxygen‐containing functional groups. Analyses show that the bombardment of high‐energy particles caused atomic structural defects. Nitrogen and copper entered the carbon paper through plasma‐induced chemical recombination and physical adsorption, reaching 5.26% and 3.83%, respectively. Ethanol‐based plasma introduced oxygen‐containing functional groups to improve hydrophilicity. Finally, the plasma‐prepared electrode exhibited a reduction efficiency of 87.69% in an electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of air plasma on the surface properties of printed and coated cardboard was investigated. The material was activated by low-pressure cold plasma for 1, 10, 20, and 30 s. Wettability changes on the surface were examined by contact angle measurements using the sessile droplet technique. The differences in the surface free energy were calculated using the Lifshitz–van der Waals/acid–base and Contact Angle Hysteresis approaches. Optical profilometry was used for the surface roughness evaluation and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed to find changes in surface chemistry. Adhesive strength tests were carried out to estimate the adhesion changes after the material’s modification. It was found that the water and formamide contact angles increased after the plasma treatment while the diiodomethane contact angle did not change. As a result of the modification, the surface free energy also increased significantly and the surface roughness increased. The pull-off tests confirmed the improvement in the material’s surface properties. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the optimal effect can be obtained after just 10 s of the plasma process.

In this study, four‐layer stacks of bleached, unrefined Kraft papers are exposed to a plane‐to‐plane dielectric barrier discharge at atmospheric pressure operated in a glow‐like discharge regime and sustained in a mixture of hexamethyldisiloxane and helium gases. Scanning electron microscopy confirms that the plasma‐deposited coating follows the roughness of the porous cellulosic substrate. Whereas fairly spatially homogeneous coatings are obtained on silicon, significant variations of the coatings' thickness, organic content, and water contact angle are observed along the gas flow lines on the Kraft paper. These effects are even more important in the presence of substrate outgassing. In addition, plasma‐generated species sequentially penetrate down to the fourth layer of the cellulosic substrate, rendering surfaces hydrophobic with very low water absorption kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: An improvement in adhesion (gluing) in the printing production process. In this study, the effect of air plasma on the surface properties of printed and coated cardboard was investigated. The material was activated by low-pressure cold plasma for 1, 10, 20, and 30 s. Wettability changes on the surface were examined by contact angle measurements using the sessile droplet technique. The differences in the surface free energy were calculated using the Lifshitz–van der Waals/acid–base and Contact Angle Hysteresis approaches. Optical profilometry was used for the surface roughness evaluation and an X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis was performed to find changes in surface chemistry. Adhesive strength tests were carried out to estimate the adhesion changes after the material's modification. It was found that the water and formamide contact angles increased after the plasma treatment while the diiodomethane contact angle did not change. As a result of the modification, the surface free energy also increased significantly and the surface roughness increased. The pull-off tests confirmed the improvement in the material's surface properties. Moreover, it was demonstrated that the optimal effect can be obtained after just 10 s of the plasma process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comment on the paper "Diffraction of Plane Waves by an Impedance Half-plane in Cold Plasma" is presented. The continuity conditions were written in the case of the surrounding medium that was free space instead of cold plasma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we investigate the influence of cold plasma as novel method on the external otitis treatment which is a frequent cause of earache. 24 infected external auditory canals in 24 rats were categorized in four experimental groups including control, plasma exposed, ciprofloxacin drug and mixed of plasma-ciprofloxacin groups. In plasma group, dielectric barrier discharge was employed as the source of cold plasma in 5 days. All rats were observed with otoscope daily and a scoring system was used to evaluate swelling and effusion of the ear canal. Number of colonies in microbiological culture were counted in each group during the first 5 days after treatment. For the multiple group comparisons of swelling and effusion measured in the external auditory canal, Kruskal–Wallis analysis was applied and one-way anova and Kruskal–Wallis analysis was used for the statistical analysis of the results of the cultures in different days. Also, Tukey and Mann–Whitney tests was applied for multiple comparisons. Our findings show that swelling and effusion were obviously reduced in plasma group compared to control group (P < 0.01). Number of colonies in control group was statistically different from those in drug, plasma, and mixed group on the second to fifth day (p < 0.001). According to the results cold plasma can be introduced as an impressive method for external otitis treatment. Moreover, when cold plasma joined to antibiotic method, it leads to a superior performance respecting plasma or antibiotic method alone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The plasmasphere accounts for the majority of the mass of Earth's magnetosphere and contains most of the cold ion (1 eV) population. The plasmasphere is extremely dynamic, undergoing a constant cycle of erosion and refilling. In this paper we perform a statistical study of erosion and refilling rates using 6 years of data from the Van Allen Probes from the beginning of 2013 through the end of 2018. Using in‐situ density measurements derived from the upper hybrid resonance line, we create global maps of the erosion and refilling rates over a wide range of L shells and local times. Sorting the data by L shell, magnetic local time, and distance to the plasmapause, we characterize the absolute and relative rates of erosion and refilling during a variety of geomagnetic conditions. We also examine three case studies of geomagnetic storms and compare their density evolutions during the recovery period. Our results are in agreement with refilling rates found by previous statistical studies using different methods, but somewhat lower than many of the case studies reported. We find median erosion rates of 164, 83, and 43 cm−3/day and refilling rates of 87, 42, and 27 cm−3/day at L = 3, 4 and 5, respectively when Kp ≤ ${\le} $ 3. We also find little local time dependence for both erosion and refilling rates. Plain Language Summary: The plasmasphere is the innermost region of Earth's magnetosphere, and accounts for the majority the magnetosphere's mass. During a geomagnetic storm, the plasmasphere loses mass in process called erosion where plasma is transported toward the sun until it is lost from the magnetosphere. Following the storm, material from the ionosphere slowly refills the plasmasphere in a matter of weeks. In this paper we study average erosion and refilling rates using data from the Van Allen Probes during the years 2013–2018. We create global maps of the erosion and refilling rates over a wide range of longitudes and distances to Earth. We characterize both the absolute and relative rates of erosion and refilling during storms of varying intensities. We also examine three case studies of geomagnetic storms and compare their density evolutions throughout these events. Our results are in agreement with refilling rates found by previous statistical studies, but somewhat lower than many of the case studies reported. At locations of 3, 4, and 5 Earth radii away, we find median refilling rates of 87, 42, and 27 cm−3/day for storms of the lowest intensity. We also find that the erosion and refilling rates are roughly the same for the dawn, day, dusk, and night sides of the planet. Key Points: We perform a statistical study of erosion and refilling rates in the plasmasphere over L shell, local time, and geomagnetic conditionsWe present three case studies which all show similar density evolutions during the recovery periodThe percent rate of change erosion rates are well sorted by distance to the plasmapause, while refilling rates are better sorted by L shell [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last decades, to improve the CAP treatment efficiency, its biological effects in combination with other physical modalities have widely investigated. However, the physical insight into most of supposed synergistic effects remained elusive. In this regard, the synergetic effect of cold plasma and magnetic field has been used for different applications, especially due to considerable synergistic in biological media reactivity. In the present paper, using a 420 mT N42 magnet, the effect of the perpendicular external static magnetic field (SMF) on the cold atmospheric pressure plasma (CAP) characteristics, such as electron temperature and density, is investigated based on the optical emission spectroscopy, utilizing the Boltzmann plot method, Saha-Boltzmann equation, and Specair software simulation. Results showed that the rotational and electronic excitational temperatures experienced 100 K and 550 K increases in the presence of SMF, respectively. In contrast, the vibrational and translational temperatures remained constant. Moreover, electron temperature was estimated as 1.04 eV in the absence of SMF and increased up to 1.24 eV in the presence of SMF. In addition, the Saha-Boltzmann equation illustrated that the electron density increased in the presence of the additional SMF. The results of the present study indicated that the magnetic field could be an assistant to the cold plasma effect, beneficial in medical applications due to modifications in plasma temperature and electron density. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Spores are the main dormant forms of some bacteria under harsh environment conditions, which are widely distributed in nature. Bacterial spores have a rigid structure, which helps resist to environmental stresses such as heat and ultraviolet radiation. At present, it is difficult to inactivate bacterial spores by the conventional sterilization methods used in the food industry. Therefore, bacterial spores are one of the most important factors influencing the food safety. In recent years, the application of non-thermal processing technologies in killing spores has received great deal of attention. Cold plasma is a novel non-thermal physical sterilization technology, which has a broad application prospect in the food industry due to its various advantages such as high bactericidal efficiency, low energy consumption, and secondary pollution-free. In this paper, the application of cold plasma in the inactivation of bacterial spores in foods is reviewed, and the underlying mechanisms are also summarized in detail. Moreover, the effects of diverse factors on cold plasma-induced spores inactivation are analyzed, and the future research direction is also prospected. This article provides important theoretical basis for the practical application of cold plasma in food safety and quality control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cancer remains one of the global leading causes of death and various vaccines have been developed over the years against it, including cell-based, nucleic acid-based, and viral-based cancer vaccines. Although many vaccines have been effective in in vivo and clinical studies and some have been FDA-approved, there are major limitations to overcome: (1) developing one universal vaccine for a specific cancer is difficult, as tumors with different antigens are different for different individuals, (2) the tumor antigens may be similar to the body's own antigens, and (3) there is the possibility of cancer recurrence. Therefore, developing personalized cancer vaccines with the ability to distinguish between the tumor and the body's antigens is indispensable. This paper provides a comprehensive review of different types of cancer vaccines and highlights important factors necessary for developing efficient cancer vaccines. Moreover, the application of other technologies in cancer therapy is discussed. Finally, several insights and conclusions are presented, such as the possibility of using cold plasma and cancer stem cells in developing future cancer vaccines, to tackle the major limitations in the cancer vaccine developmental process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, plasma surface treatment has seen tremendous breakthroughs, which have revolutionized both the field of material engineering and the procedures used to modify surfaces. This paper offers a thorough discussion of the most recent discoveries and developments that have been made in the field of plasma surface treatment. It investigates cutting-edge technologies, innovative plasma sources and sophisticated process control approaches, all of which have greatly improved the effectiveness and adaptability of the therapy. The research also explores how these breakthroughs solve earlier obstacles, provide new opportunities for industrial applications and pave the way for future developments in the area. Moreover, the study looks at how these advancements open the door for future developments in the sector. This study gives useful insights into the emerging landscape of plasma surface treatment and its potential influence on a variety of sectors by summarizing and assessing current research. These insights may be found in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Millets are ancient grains, following wheat, that have been a fundamental source of human sustenance. These are nutrient-rich small-seeded grains that have gained prominence and admiration globally due to their super resilience in diverse climates and significant nutritional benefits. As millets are renowned for their nutritional richness, the demand for millet-based products increases. Hence, this paper aims in identifying the growing need for innovative processing techniques that not only preserve their nutritional content but also extend their shelf life. Design/methodology/approach: In traditional times, heat was the only means of cooking and processing of the foods, but the amount of damage they used to cause to the sensorial and nutritional properties was huge. Millets' sensitivity toward heat poses a challenge, as their composition is susceptible to disruption during various heat treatments and manufacturing processes. To cater to this drawback while ensuring the prolonged shelf life and nutrient preservation, various innovative approaches such as cold plasma, infrared technology and high hydrostatic pressure (HPP) processing are being widely used. These new methodologies aim on inactivating the microorganisms that have been developed within the food, providing the unprocessed, raw and natural form of nutrients in food products. Findings: Among these approaches, nonthermal technology has emerged as a key player that prioritizes brief treatment periods and avoids the use of high temperatures. Nonthermal techniques (cold plasma, infrared radiation, HPP processing, ultra-sonication and pulsed electric field) facilitate the conservation of millet's nutritional integrity by minimizing the degradation of heat-sensitive nutrients like vitamins and antioxidants. Acknowledging the potential applications and processing efficiency of nonthermal techniques, the food industry has embarked on substantial investments in this technology. The present study provides an in-depth exploration of the array of nonthermal technologies used in the food industry and their effects on the physical and chemical composition of diverse millet varieties. Originality/value: Nonthermal techniques, compared to conventional thermal methods, are environmentally sound processes that contribute to energy conservation. However, these conveniences are accompanied by challenges, and this review not only elucidates these challenges but also focuses on the future implications of nonthermal techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Starch is an important part of the human diet; however, this macromolecule has undesired physicochemical properties associated with its limited water solubility, low viscosity, and poor thermal stability, limiting its food applications. Cold plasma (CP) is an emerging and nonthermal technology used in recent years to modify the physicochemical properties of starch powders. This paper comprehensively reviewed the application of CP in starches, including information about reactors and gases used to modify starches with CP, the application in starch granules, and the combination with other treatments such as hydration, dry heat, chemical and enzymatic treatments, extrusion, ultra-high-pressure, and microwave. Modified starch granules by atmospheric CP showed depolymerization of starch molecules, impacting the amylose content, crystalline structure, water solubility, and thermal properties. Certain gases used in CP, such as hexamethyldisiloxane and helium, can induce cross-linking in starch granules, increasing thermal and mechanical properties. CP associated with physicochemical treatments is more efficient in inducing starch depolymerization, improving the modification of the physicochemical properties of this macromolecule. CP is a useful tool for modifying the properties of starch granules; however, further research and development are necessary to elucidate its industrial application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an innovative technology in biological applications, cold plasma is widely used in oral treatment, tissue regeneration, wound healing, and cancer therapy, etc., because of the adjustable composition and temperature which allow the plasma to react with bio-objects safely. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by cold plasma regulate cell activity in an intensity- and time-dependent manner. A low level of ROS produced by cold plasma treatment within the appropriate intensities and times promotes proliferation of skin-related cells and increases angiogenesis, which aid in the acceleration of the wound healing process, while a high level of ROS produced by cold plasma treatment performed at a high intensity or over a long period of time inhibits the proliferation of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and cancer cells. Moreover, cold plasma can regulate stem cell proliferation by changing niche interface and producing nitric oxide directly. However, the molecular mechanism of cold plasma regulating cell activity and its potential application in the field of animal husbandry remain unclear in the literature. Therefore, this paper reviews the effects and possible regulatory mechanisms of cold plasma on the activities of endothelial cells, keratinocytes, fibroblasts, stem cells, and cancer cells to provide a theoretical basis for the application of cold plasma to skin-wound healing and cancer therapy. In addition, cold plasma exposure at a high intensity or an extended time shows excellent performances in killing various microorganisms existing in the environment or on the surface of animal food, and preparing inactivated vaccines, while cold plasma treatment within the appropriate conditions improves chicken growth and reproductive capacity. This paper introduces the potential applications of cold plasma treatment in relation to animal-breeding environments, animal health, their growth and reproduction, and animal food processing and preservation, which are all beneficial to the practice of animal husbandry and guarantee good animal food safety results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In nature, matter is found in solid, liquid or gaseous form. At very high temperatures, molecules can absorb an enormous amount of energy, causing them to move in a disordered way. With the absorbed energy, they can dissociate into atoms, and because of their disordered motion, these molecules or atoms can split into ions and electrons. Excessive heating of matter is therefore always accompanied by ionisation, leaving the medium electrically neutral. This ionised state is known as plasma. It is sometimes called the fourth state of matter. Plasmas are therefore mixtures of neutral and/or excited ions, electrons, atoms, radicals or demodules with an internal energy above the neutral state. Sources of plasma can be as follows: naturally occurring in the ionosphere; produced by nuclear reactions; generated by a hyperfrequency source; formed by direct heating followed by confinement in a region of space by a magnetic field; and produced by electrical discharges. Plasma is characterised by the state of its components: density, which is defined by the number of particles per unit volume; kinetic temperature; and degree of ionisation. Plasma can be thermal or out of thermal equilibrium, or 'cold plasma'. Cold plasma is formed, for example, when a gas passes through strong electric fields - electrons are dissociated from the molecules and the gas becomes electrically conductive and glows blue. The paper describes the equipment used to create cold plasma, which was used to treat different surfaces. After treatment, they were bonded with different adhesives and tested for tensile strenght. An improvement in the mechanical properties mentioned above was observed when the surfaces to be bonded were treated with cold plasma compared to surfaces bonded normally. When the impact of cold plasma treatment on elongation, or ε, is examined, it is found that for Fiber Wood samples, cold plasma treatment considerably boosts elongation, increasing it from 0.35% for untreated samples to 0.81% for samples treated with cold plasma. For samples that have been treated with cold plasma, the average value increases significantly from 0.03% to 0.63% when ArbofillFichte material is used. In addition, the application of cold plasma treatment to the surfaces results in an increase in the modulus of elasticity. For example, the modulus of elasticity doubles for Arbofill Fichte samples, going from 113.56MPa for untreated samples to 227.43MPa for cold plasma treated samples; for Fiber Wood, it increases from an average value of 789.52MPa for untreated samples to an average value of 931.62MPa for treated samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Research & Development is the property of Food Research & Development Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Mycotoxins are toxic, which can endanger health of animals and humans, causing a lot of economic losses to the food industry. Cold plasma is an emerging non-thermal technology featuring green and high efficiency, which can degrade mycotoxin in an effective way. To provide a theoretical reference for the application of cold plasma in the degradation of food mycotoxins, this paper first summarized the mycotoxins degradation mechanisms after cold plasma treatment. The key point is the structure of degradation products and possible degradation pathways of aflatoxin, deoxynivalenol, and zearalenone after cold plasma treatment under different discharge modes and treatment conditions. What's more, the degradation effect of cold plasma on pure mycotoxins and mycotoxins on food matrix were reviewed. Finally, the safety and feasibility of cold plasma treatment was talked about from the perspective of toxicity, which was separated into structural, cellular and animal toxicity of the mycotoxin degradation products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Field Line Resonances (FLRs) are a critical component in Earth's magnetospheric dynamics, associated with the transfer of energy between Ultra Low Frequency waves and local plasma populations. In this study we investigate how the polarisation of FLRs are impacted by cold plasma density distributions during geomagnetic storms. We present an analysis of Van Allen Probe A observations, where the spacecraft traversed a storm time plasmaspheric plume. We show that the polarisation of the FLR is significantly altered at the sharp azimuthal density gradient of the plume boundary, where the polarisation is intermediate with significant poloidal and toroidal components. These signatures are consistent with magnetohydrodynamic modeling results, providing the first observational evidence of a 3D FLR associated with a plume in Earth's magnetosphere. These results demonstrate the importance of cold plasma in controlling wave dynamics in the magnetosphere, and have important implications for wave‐particle interactions at a range of energies. Plain Language Summary: Earth's space environment is home to electrons and ions across a wide range of energies, trapped in the region by our global geomagnetic field. Energy can be transferred to and from the trapped particles through oscillations in the magnetic field, and these processes are responsible for the extreme energization of trapped electrons to hazardous levels for local spacecraft. In this paper we explore a type of magnetic field oscillation termed Field Line Resonances (FLRs): standing waves on a field line analogous to the oscillatory motion of guitar strings. We use spacecraft observations to show that the direction of the field line oscillations changes significantly depending on the density of the background plasma. The results confirm previous modeling work, and are the first observational evidence of 3D FLRs at a plume. The findings have important consequences for how FLRs transfer energy between the electrons and ions. Key Points: We present the first observational evidence of a 3D Field Line Resonance at the sharp density gradient of a plume edgeThe observed polarisation change confirms magnetohydrodynamic modeling results and predictions made by Elsden and Wright (2022)The presence of 3D Field Line Resonances during storm times has impacts for how Ultra Low Frequency waves couple and interact with local plasma [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The need for safe and healthy foods has increased since the turn of the century. Novel non‐thermal food processing technologies are being adopted by the food sector. Cold plasma (CP) is a proposed, non‐thermal food processing method that inactivates contaminating bacteria on foods and packing materials by using charged, highly reactive gaseous molecules and species. It was originally established to improve the printing and adhesive capabilities of polymers, as well as several electronic applications. The uses of cold plasma have expanded up to food industries in recent decades as a powerful tool for non‐thermal food processing, with a variety of applications. The impact of CP on food quality is crucial to its acceptability as an alternative food processing technology. As the cold plasma possesses non‐thermal characteristics, these can be a great combination of high reactivity and moderate temperatures, which can be used for heat‐sensitive products. CP treatments have had no or little effects on the chemical, physical, sensory, and nutritional properties of different items because of the non‐thermal nature. This review paper discusses the cold plasma, generation method, effect on food and limitations, and future prospects. Practical applications: Non‐thermal food processing is a relatively new application that is gaining attraction. As a non‐thermal technology, cold plasma is environmentally safe and produces minimal modifications in treated products. Cold plasma has a wide range of uses in the food and biomedical industries. The application of cold plasma for surface sterilization of both food products and food packaging materials is progressing due to significant advances in plasma science and its advantages over the conventional sterilization technologies. This paper highlights recent cold plasma breakthroughs on several plant and animal‐based food matrices with the goal of emphasizing prospective applications, current research, and industry trends. This analysis will help students, researchers, consumers, and food processors to understand the safety of cold plasma and its wide‐scale commercial application in food by assessing the safety of gases utilized in the plasma treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Millets are tiny-seeded grains that play a crucial part in the mitigation of malnutrition and food insecurity due to global warming, accelerated growth in population, and an economic slowdown. Millets are indigenous climate-resilient food crops that are processed to achieve enhanced shelf-stable products along with preservation of their nutritional value. Non-thermal processing is preferred in this aspect, owing to its minimal undesirable effects. Non-thermal processing has many advantages over traditional techniques. Food ingredients that are sensitive to heat and chemical treatments can be subjected to non-thermal processing for microbial disinfection, enzyme inactivation, protein modification, etc. It offers a new generation of value-added foods with intact bioactive ingredients. This paper presents the recent advances in non-thermal processing methods used in sorghum, foxtail, kodo, proso, little, pearl, and finger millets. This review consolidates the studies on the effects of mechanical grinding, germination, fermentation, high hydrostatic pressure, ultrasonication, irradiation, pulsed light, light emitting diodes, and cold plasma in the nutritive quality and storage characteristics of millets. Germination, fermentation, high pressure, ultrasonication, irradiation, pulsed-light, and cold plasma improved the nutritional attributes, free radicals scavenging activity, and sensory characteristics of millets; however, extreme dehulling, milling, and polishing affected the contents of micronutrients, polyphenols, and dietary fiber. The processing methods also reduced the bulk density of millet products in the preparation of weaning and geriatric foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper reports the optical characterization of a controlled atmospheric-pressure dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma source in air and Ar environments. In this study, Ar flow rate is held constant at 1 L/min while the operating voltages varied from 6.5 kV to 12.7 kV. Under these conditions, a calibrated commercial compact spectrometer covering the range from 200 to 850 nm was used to record the emission spectra of DBD plasma operating at different voltages, gap distances, and gas types. Using the Boltzmann distribution, we calculated the electron density ( $ n_e $ ne) and excitation temperatures in the plasma of air and Ar DBD at 2 mm gap distance . The emission spectra lines of the hydroxyl radicals (OH), $ {{N_{2}}} $ N2, and Ar ions are acquired at different operating conditions. According to the findings, the light intensity of Ar DBD is significantly higher than that of air DBD under the same conditions of operation. The intensity of the generated plasma spectrum is also shown to rise with both an increase in the input voltage and a decrease in the gap distance. The measurements also showed that the average temperature of the excited electrons is around 1.1 eV for air DBD and 0.11 eV for Ar DBD, while $ n_e $ ne for both is on the order of $ {10^{16}}\,{{\rm cm}^{-3}} $ 1016cm−3. These results show that as the working voltage increases, the plasma changes from a filamentary state to a homogeneous mode. Knowing the DBD parameters increases its chance to compete with traditional methods in many fields, such as water, polymers, and biomedical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma has several applications in different fields. One of these fundamental applications is medical usages, where various methods are employed to improve the plasma treatment process. The combination of different gases is one of the important strategies to improve the performance of plasma in treatment. In this paper, the optimized plasma parameters for one-dimensional radiofrequency discharge produced at low pressures in a helium gas combination is studied. In this research, the optimal combination of H2O and He is identified to attain the highest amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Considered mixture are 5, 10, 15 and 20 precent of H2O for one dimensional helium gas discharge. The results show that the parameters of the output plasma are highly dependent on the composition of the input gases. It is found that the greatest concentrations of H+, H+, Hes (excited helium), and OH densities are observed when the H2O percentage was at 10%. Moreover, the density distributions of various species and the temperatures of electrons are numerically calculated during the electrical discharge process. These findings provide useful knowledge on how to optimize plasma parameters for biomedical applications, which may lead to improved treatment results in several therapeutic areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: Dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma (DBD‐CP) improves packing characters of films. According to our previous study, the physical performances including barrier and mechanical properties of casein films were enhanced by DBD‐CP treatment. The aim of this paper was to study the effects of DBD‐CP discharge on the physical performances of films made from casein‐based film‐forming solutions. The structural characteristics, mechanical and barrier properties, and heat stability of the produced casein films were evaluated. As expected, the differential scanning calorimeter (DSC) results indicated that the DBD‐CP treatment improved heat stability of the films. However, other properties such as tensile strength (TS), elongation at break (EAB) and barrier to water vapours were negatively affected. Similar results were obtained after examining casein film‐forming solution treated with DBD‐CP using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). In conclusion, treating the film‐forming solution directly with DBD‐CP should be done cautiously while reinforcing the films packing properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Low-moisture foods such as spices, grains, and seeds constitute an important part of the human diet. Increased consumer concern for food safety and food quality has focused on the decontamination technologies required for low-moisture foods. Cold plasma treatment has been a promising novel technology in the food processing industry due to its advantages in safety, efficiency, versatility, and environmentally friendly nature. It has shown various capabilities on safety and quality control in low-moisture foods. This paper comprehensively reviewed the application of cold plasma in low-moisture foods, including inactivation of microorganisms, degradation of mycotoxins, influences on the quality of low-moisture foods, and promotion of seed germination. Cold plasma can inactivate the pathogenic microorganisms on the surface of low-moisture foods, by generating active species, ultraviolet radiation, and electric fields, which helps to extend the shelf life of foods while having minimal impact on food quality. Cold plasma technology is also an effective approach to detoxify mycotoxin-contaminated low-moisture foods by degrading various mycotoxins. With the manipulation of parameters for cold plasma generation, target functional properties of food products may be obtained. In addition, the application of cold plasma in seed germination is promising and could be of great significance to the global food crisis. This review also suggests that more systematic studies are needed to employ cold plasma in the low-moisture foods industry for selected applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The food and agricultural industries have numerous practical advantages to be gained from the use of cold plasma technology. This paper attempts to showcase the possible uses of cold plasma in the food sector, while also highlighting the most recent developments and market trends. The efficiency of cold plasma in enhancing food products' quality and shelf life has been demonstrated in several investigations. This review has concentrated on current research into how this technology affects various food chain production stages. Cold plasma has become a cutting-edge non-thermal technique that can be used to ensure food safety. The precise mechanism underlying the effectiveness of cold plasma is still unclear. Understanding these mechanisms and potential elements that can restrict or increase their effectiveness and results is crucial to further enhancing and implementing cold plasma treatment in food processing. The main objective of this review is to investigate the use of plasma, its exceptional characteristics, and its advantages in safe, sustainable food production. In particular, this review summarizes recent studies on the use of cold plasma for microorganisms and pesticides treatment, compiling them and discussing their content. As reported in the literature, a critical point has also been reviewed about some diverse plasma configurations. A comparative study of the efficacy of cold plasma in environmental applications (microorganisms/pesticides) has also been reviewed from the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meat quality is damaged by traditional technologies. Researchers devised a revolutionary technique called plasma technology to meet the requirement for an effective cold processing method. Cold plasma (CP) used for meats and its products decontamination and storability extension has shown to be highly successful. The influence of CP on meat quality is important to its acceptability as an alternative meat processing technology. CP treatments have had effects on the color, pH, lipid oxidation, and microbial quality of different meat products. CP treatment offers crucial benefits over traditional processing methods because of its design adaptability, non-thermal behavior, relatively inexpensive, and environmental friendliness. CP processing is currently in its infancy and requires further investigation in meat and meat products to achieve its best extent. This paper discusses the fundamentals of CP technology, its effects on the quality of meats such as color, pH value, lipid oxidation, and microbial quality, and future perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality losses in fresh produce throughout the postharvest phase are often due to the inappropriate use of preservation technologies. In the last few decades, besides the traditional approaches, advanced postharvest physical and chemical treatments (active packaging, dipping, vacuum impregnation, conventional heating, pulsed electric field, high hydrostatic pressure, and cold plasma) and biocontrol techniques have been implemented to preserve the nutritional value and safety of fresh produce. The application of these methodologies after harvesting is useful when addressing quality loss due to the long duration when transporting products to distant markets. Among the emerging technologies and contactless and non-destructive techniques for quality monitoring (image analysis, electronic noses, and near-infrared spectroscopy) present numerous advantages over the traditional, destructive methods. The present review paper has grouped original studies within the topic of advanced postharvest technologies, to preserve quality and reduce losses and waste in fresh produce. Moreover, the effectiveness and advantages of some contactless and non-destructive methodologies for monitoring the quality of fruit and vegetables will also be discussed and compared to the traditional methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drying is an important and influential process to prolong the shelf‐life of food in the food industry. Recent studies have shown that cold plasma (CP) as an emerging drying pretreatment technology can improve drying performance, reduce drying energy consumption, and improve dried food quality. This paper comprehensively reviewed the mechanism of CP improving drying performance, related equipment, energy consumption, influencing factors, and impact on drying quality. This review also discusses the advantages and disadvantages and proposes possible challenges and suggestions for future research. Most studies indicated that CP pretreatment could improve the drying rate and quality and reduce the drying energy consumption. CP can promote moisture diffusion and improve drying efficiency by etching the surface and affecting the internal microstructure. In addition, CP can enhance the quality of dried products by reducing drying time and enzyme activity. Further research is needed to explore the drying mechanisms and equipment innovations to promote the application of CP in the food drying industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we propose a 1D ternary photonic crystal with Silicon/MCP/Air structure, whose transmission properties have been analyzed. By employing the TMM, the transmittance spectra are plotted for the introduced TPC in four cases by varying the parameters: angle of incidence, lattice constant, static magnetic field, and electron density. The focus of this analysis is to illustrate the PBGs or zero-transmission regions (GHz) exhibited by the TPC in these four cases. In the first case, there exist three PBGs at normal incidence in which the first two bands are enhanced with increase in the incident angle, while the third band shows reverse nature. At the incident angle 89°, three sets of multiple sharp peaks of transmission, showing multichannel filter characteristics, occur in place of allowed regions, and such abnormal feature of the TPC is attributed to the existence of MCP. Next it is demonstrated that such TPC can be exploited as multiband reflectors for a larger lattice parameter with increased thickness of the Si layer. In the third and fourth cases, the first bandgap is found to be least sensitive to the variations in the parameters, while the tunability in second and third bands in both cases is opposite to each other. By comparing the features of this TPC with a binary PC of Silicon/MCP structure, the tunablity in the second bandgap is far better in case of TPC. Based on the investigated results, the TPC under different conditions may be a good candidate for various applications, including highly tunable broadband and multiband reflectors; and multichannel filters for dense wavelength division multiplexing and high-speed signal processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold Atmospheric Pressure Plasma (CAP) is very potent and impactful technology implemented for both technological and biomedical applications. This paper focuses on the implementation of artificial neural network (ANN) for a novel double ring electrode based cold atmospheric pressure plasma which is to operated only in the glow discharge region for its application in biomedical field. ANN inherently helps in visualizing the effective output parameters such as peak discharge current, power consumed, jet length (with sleeve) and jet length (without sleeve) for given set of input parameters of supply voltage and supply frequency using machine learning model. The capability of the ANN model is demonstrated by predicting the output parameters of the CAP beyond the experimental range. Finally, the optimized settings of supply voltage and supply frequency will be determined using the composite desirability function approach to simultaneously maximize the peak discharge current, jet length (with sleeve) and jet length (without sleeve), and minimize the power consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objectives]The paper aimed to investigate the effects of cold plasma treatment on the quality and antioxidant activity of fresh-cut carrots during storage, and to propose a basis for the application of cold plasma treatment in fresh-cut carrot preservation. [Methods]Fresh-cut carrots were treated with dielectric barrier discharge cold plasma at 60 kV for 5 min and stored at (10±1) ℃ for 72 h. Regular samples were taken to measure the quality parameters, polyphenols content and antioxidant activity of fresh-cut carrots. [Results]Cold plasma treatment could slow down the occurrence of white blush by inhibiting peroxidase activity and the accumulation of lignin and inhibit the growth of surface microorganisms in fresh-cut carrots. Cold plasma treatment maintained higher contents of ascorbic acid and total carotenoid in fresh-cut carrots. In addition, cold plasma treatment could improve the generation rate of ■ and H2O2 content during the early storage period, and improve the activities of phenylalanine ammonialyase (PAL),cinnamic acid 4-hydroxylase (C4H) and 4-coumaric acid coenzyme A ligase (4CL),and improve the contents of chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and other phenolic substances and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging rate in fresh-cut carrots. [Conclusions]Cold plasma treatment could delay the quality deterioration of fresh-cut carrots, and improve the antioxidant activity by promoting the accumulation of phenolic substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Even though food by-products have many negative financial and environmental impacts, they contain a considerable quantity of precious bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. The recovery of these compounds from food wastes could diminish their adverse effects in different aspects. For doing this, various nonthermal and conventional methods are used. Since conventional extraction methods may cause plenty of problems, due to their heat production and extreme need for energy and solvent, many novel technologies such as microwave, ultrasound, cold plasma, pulsed electric field, pressurized liquid, and ohmic heating technology have been regarded as alternatives assisting the extraction process. This paper highlights the competence of mild technologies in the recovery of polyphenols from food by-products, the effect of these technologies on polyphenol oxidase, and the application of the recovered polyphenols in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Shipin Kexue/ Food Science is the property of Food Science Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Cold plasma (CP) technology, an emerging non-thermal technology, has attracted widespread attentions in food fields for the advantages of safety, no needs for chemical agents and low-energy-consumption. Cold plasma can release ultraviolet rays and active substances (such as reactive oxygen radicals, reactive nitrogen radicals, hydroxyl radicals and ions) in the excitation process. The reactive species can induce etching and cross-linking of biomacromolecules, or modify the structure and functional groups of food components (such as lipids, proteins and starches), consequently affecting the sensory and flavor qualities of food. This paper summarizes the effects and action mechanism of CP on food components (protein, lipids, starch), victim, polyphenols. The present existing problems and future developments of CP technology are discussed and proposed. This paper would provide a theoretical guides for facilitating the application of CP technology in food industry.

The paper presents the effects of plasma treatment on agricultural seeds. Cucumber and pepper seeds, widely used in agriculture, were treated using the Diffuse Coplanar Surface Barrier Discharge (DCSBD) at atmospheric pressure in ambient air. The plasma treatment (4 s for pepper, 20 s for cucumber) led to an improvement of germination and germinating power. XPS confirmed chemical changes on the seed surface. The surface morphology of the plasma treated seeds showed no evidence of structural damage. The conclusion is that DCSBD proves to be able to reduce some of the microorganisms and pathogens affecting the seeds. Thanks to their technical simplicity and easy scaling‐up, DCSBD plasma sources open new opportunities for atmospheric pressure plasma application in the agricultural industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The gliding arc cold plasma treatment of wheat seeds is an alternative to chemical seed dressing, but this treatment is not very effective. This study was focused on testing the addition of salt, water and nitrogenous compounds during plasma treatment to increase the efficiency of the plasma seed treatment. The additives were not supplied in the gaseous state, as usual, but in an aqueous solution by spraying under a plasma nozzle during the treatment. The phytosanitary effect of the plasma treatment was evaluated based on the germination of Tilletia caries spores from artificially infected seeds on water agar. The viability of the seeds, growth and yield characteristics of the plasma-treated seeds were evaluated in the laboratory, greenhouse and even in field experiments with the primary goal of reducing spore vitality. The germination of T. caries spores was mostly limited to the variant with the addition of water during plasma treatment, where spore germination reached only 32.7% of the control variant while maintaining sufficient growth properties. The experiment demonstrated the suitability of using the addition of various substances during plasma treatment in the form of aqueous solutions and increasing the effectiveness of this treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper analyzes the results of accurate measurements of the ion current collected by a cylindrical Langmuir probe immersed in cold argon, neon, and helium plasmas. These measurements make it possible to study the influence of the positive ion‐to‐electron temperature ratio β = T+/Te on the collected ion current, providing valuable information about the trajectory described by the positive ions when falling toward the probe. Several criteria have been applied to discriminate whether the ion current is described by using the orbital motion limited theory or the radial motion theory. In all the studied argon and neon plasma discharge conditions, the criteria indicate that the positive ion current collected by the probe is appropriately described by the radial motion theory; however, as β increases, some criteria indicate a trend toward the orbital theory. In contrast, for the studied helium plasmas discharge conditions, a transition from radial to orbital motion has been measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Can low-temperature plasma technology play a role in medicine? This is a question that many investigators today are trying hard to give a positive answer to. It did not quite start out this way. Almost two decades ago, few "curious" electrical engineers and physicists with the help of few "brave" biologists! microbiologists asked themselves more basic questions: What happens to biological cells if they were exposed to low-temperature plasma? Will they die? Will they survive? If they survive, will they come out the same or somehow "injured"? If injured, will they be able to repair the damage and recover? What kind of damage? Which plasma agent causes the damage? etc. As will be shown in this paper, some of these fundamental questions have been partially or fully answered, but until today, a complete picture has yet to emerge. This is good and not so good. It is good because if we already knew all the answers, we would not be looking forward to a more exciting research. It is not so good because after all these years, we are still quite a ways from an implementable medical application. In this review paper, the present state of knowledge regarding the effects of cold plasma on bacteria cells (prokaryotes) and on eukaryotic cells (such as mammalian cells) will be presented. As medical applications where low-temperature plasma is showing signs of success, blood coagulation and wound healing will be described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The treatment of additive-free hand sheet paper samples with cold plasma was carried out and showed that cellulose can be chemically linked with reactive natural products, namely myrcene (My) and limonene (LM). Contact-angle measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to ascertain the occurrence of the grafting. Indeed, the contact-angle value of a drop of water deposited at the surface of paper increased from 30° for unmodified substrate to about 105 and 107°, for LM- and My-treated samples, respectively. In fact, LM- and My-treated surfaces were rendered totally apolar. Indeed, the polar contribution to the surface energy decreased from about 23 mJ/m2 for pristine samples to practically zero for treated ones. The treated surfaces displayed water-barrier properties; the penetration of the liquid was reduced significantly after LM and My treatments. The XPS spectra showed that the modification with LM and My gave rise to very significant change in the O/C ratio, as well as in the intensity of the C1 peak assigned to aliphatic carbon sequences. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper presents an experimentally observed transition from the validity of the radial theories to the validity of the orbital theories that model the ion current collected by a cylindrical Langmuir probe immersed in low-pressure, low-temperature helium plasma when it is negatively biased with respect to the plasma potential, as a function of the positive ion-neutral collision mean free path to the Debye length ratio Λ = λ + / λ D . The study has been also conducted on argon and neon plasmas, which allows a comparison based on the mass of the ions, although no transition has been observed for these gases. As the radial or orbital behavior of the ions is essential to establish the validity of the different sheath theories, a theoretical analysis of such a transition not only as a function of the parameters Λ and β = T + / T e , T + and T e being the positive ion and electron temperature, respectively, but also as a function of the ion mass is provided. This study allows us to recognize the importance of the mass of the ion as the parameter that explains the transition in helium plasmas. Motivated by these theoretical arguments, a novel set of measurements has been performed to study the relationship between the Λ and β parameters in the transition that demonstrate that the effect of the ion mean free path cannot be completely ignored and also that its influence on the ion current collected by the probe is less important than the effect of the ion temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]